Chess Prodigy Hans Niemann Slams Bizarre Cheating Allegations Involving Vibrating Sex Toys

Hans Niemann's attempt to move on from an alleged cheating scandal may have been thwarted by his interview with Piers Morgan on Monday. Despite consistently denying cheating in over-the-board chess, the 20-year-old addressed the specific accusations made against him, which claimed that he used vibrating sex toys to cheat. These allegations originated from social media, although the source remains unclear.

When Morgan asked him if he had utilized those toys "during chess matches," Niemann responded, "Your inquisitiveness is rather worrisome, maybe you have a personal interest, but I assure you, I haven't.

"Absolutely not, without a doubt."

Following his triumph over Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world champion, last year, the New York Times reported that Niemann confidently stated, "If they want me to undress completely, I'll comply. It doesn't bother me since I am fully aware of my integrity. Whether they propose playing within an enclosed container with no electronic communication, I couldn't care less. Feel free to make any demands." Niemann, an exceptionally talented chess player from the United States, faced cheating allegations from Carlsen following his victory over the Norwegian at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup held in St. Louis.

Carlsen refrained from divulging specific details regarding Niemann's alleged actions during their over-the-board match in September 2022. However, social media was inundated with claims that Niemann resorted to using vibrating sex toys to receive signals, enabling him to determine his moves. This cheating scandal involving Niemann has captivated the global chess community for the past year.

In an interview with the St. Louis Chess Club following his match against Carlsen in 2022, Niemann confessed that he had never cheated in face-to-face games, but he did acknowledge his past wrongdoings of cheating in casual games on Chess.com when he was younger, describing it as "the single biggest mistake of my life."

However, a comprehensive 72-page report by Chess.com, the prominent online chess platform, later stated that Niemann was highly probable of cheating in over 100 online matches spanning from July 2015 to August 2020, including several lucrative events with prize money.

In 2020, Niemann privately admitted to cheating to the chief chess officer of the website. This confession ultimately resulted in a temporary ban from the platform for the 20-year-old. Subsequently, Niemann initiated a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Chess.com, Carlsen, and well-known streamer and player, Hikaru Nakamura.

Niemann's lawsuit, accusing Chess.com of cheating, was described as "false." In June, the lawsuit was dismissed by a judge. Niemann expressed his satisfaction on social media, stating that the matter has been resolved in a mutually acceptable way and he is glad to return to Chess.com. He looks forward to competing with Magnus Carlsen in chess, rather than in court.

He carried on, saying that these challenging times have only made him more determined and resilient, fueling his ambition to become the foremost chess player. He believes that the moment has arrived to let his performance on the chessboard speak for itself.

Not long after, he was reinstated on Chess.com, acclaimed as the largest online platform for chess worldwide, boasting over 10 million games played daily.

Niemann, seated beside his lawyer during his TV appearance on Monday, expressed how deeply he was affected by the entire ordeal.

"It is truly disheartening to be accused of cheating following such a hard-earned victory," he shared.

I gained valuable insights from those experiences, which taught me important life and chess lessons. He further characterized Carlsen as a "bully."

"He successfully utilized his expansive empire and extensive connections at Chess.com to his advantage. Capitalizing on the ongoing merger, he mobilized a group of individuals to launch a series of attacks against me. This behavior can only be described as bullying." CNN has contacted Carlsen and Chess.com for their input.

Gaining an edge

Cheating in chess has become more commonplace in the age of technology, with more players choosing to battle over computers because of the connectivity it offers.

Since then, advancements in computer hardware and software have played a significant role in transforming chess into a game of the modern era, with the aid of chess engines. According to Chess.com, these engines are programs that analyze chess positions and provide the best possible move options based on their calculations.

A panoramic view of the 2015 World Chess Rapid and Blitz Championship held in Berlin, Germany on October 12, 2015. (Photo credit: Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for World Chess by Agon Limited)

Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images Europe

How do you even cheat in chess? Artificial intelligence and Morse code

In recent years, chess engines have surpassed humans in strength, with many reaching a rating of 3,000 Elo or higher. The Elo rating system is used to measure the relative strength of chess players. To put this in perspective, Carlsen achieved the record for the highest Elo rating ever achieved by a human player in 2014, reaching 2,882.

Among these advanced chess engines is Stockfish, which boasts a rating of over 3,500. This means that it has a 98% probability of defeating Carlsen in a match, leaving only a 2% chance of a draw against the five-time world champion. In essence, a victory for Carlsen against Stockfish seems virtually impossible.

Chess engines have been beneficial in improving players' skills, as they enable practice against flawless moves, thereby preparing them for any possible scenario. However, they have also facilitated cheating for certain players. Consequently, online chess platforms such as Chess.com have implemented anti-cheating technology to identify instances where players employ external computer software during games, aiming to prevent any unfair behavior.

FIDE's ongoing efforts to tackle online cheating contrast with the relatively untainted nature of over-the-board chess, where cheating is considerably more challenging.

Andy Howie, an arbiter and a member of FIDE's anti-cheating Fair Play Commission, highlighted to CNN last year the various measures implemented to prevent over-the-board cheating. These measures include the use of metal detectors, signal scanners, non-linear scanners, and thermal imaging.

But safety measures havent stopped people from attempting to cheat and the history of the game is rife with scandal.